Diazepan orexin receptor antagonists

ABSTRACT

The present invention is directed to diazepan compounds which are antagonists of orexin receptors, and which are useful in the treatment or prevention of neurological and psychiatric disorders and diseases in which orexin receptors are involved. The invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and the use of these compounds and compositions in the prevention or treatment of such diseases in which orexin receptors are involved.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a U.S. National Phase application under 35 U.S.C.§371 of PCT Application No. PCT/US2007/007738 filed Mar. 27, 2007, whichclaims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 from U.S. Application No.60/787,070, filed Mar. 29, 2006.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The orexins (hypocretins) comprise two neuropeptides produced in thehypothalamus: the orexin A (OX-A) (a 33 amino acid peptide) and theorexin B (OX-B) (a 28 amino acid peptide) (Sakurai T. et al., Cell,1998, 92, 573-585). Orexins are found to stimulate food consumption inrats suggesting a physiological role for these peptides as mediators inthe central feedback mechanism that regulates feeding behaviour (SakuraiT. et al., Cell, 1998, 92, 573-585). Orexins also regulate states ofsleep and wakefulness opening potentially novel therapeutic approachesfor narcoleptic or insomniac patients (Chemelli R. M. et al., Cell,1999, 98, 437-451). Two orexin receptors have been cloned andcharacterized in mammals. They belong to the super family of G-proteincoupled receptors (Sakurai T. et al., Cell, 1998, 92, 573-585): theorexin-1 receptor (OX or OX1R) is selective for OX-A and the orexin-2receptor (OX2 or OX2R) is capable to bind OX-A as well as OX-B. Thephysiological actions in which orexins are presumed to participate arethought to be expressed via one or both of OX 1 receptor and OX 2receptor as the two subtypes of orexin receptors.

Orexin receptors are found in the mammalian brain and may have numerousimplications in pathologies such as depression; anxiety; addictions;obsessive compulsive disorder; affective neurosis; depressive neurosis;anxiety neurosis; dysthymic disorder; behaviour disorder; mood disorder;sexual dysfunction; psychosexual dysfunction; sex disorder;schizophrenia; manic depression; delirium; dementia; severe mentalretardation and dyskinesias such as Huntington's disease and Tourettesyndrome; eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia, cachexia, andobesity; cardiovascular diseases; diabetes; appetite/taste disorders;emesis, vomiting, nausea; asthma; cancer; Parkinson's disease; Cushing'ssyndrome/disease; basophile adenoma; prolactinoma; hyperprolactinemia;hypophysis tumour/adenoma; hypothalamic diseases; inflammatory boweldisease; gastric diskinesia; gastric ulcers; Froehlich's syndrome;adrenohypophysis disease; hypophysis disease; adrenohypophysishypofunction; adrenohypophysis hyperfunction; hypothalamic hypogonadism;Kallman's syndrome (anosmia, hyposmia); functional or psychogenicamenorrhea; hypopituitarism; hypothalamic hypothyroidism;hypothalamic-adrenal dysfunction; idiopathic hyperprolactinemia;hypothalamic disorders of growth hormone deficiency; idiopathic growthdeficiency; dwarfism; gigantism; acromegaly; disturbed biological andcircadian rhythms; sleep disturbances associated with diseases such asneurological disorders, neuropathic pain and restless leg syndrome;heart and lung diseases, acute and congestive heart failure;hypotension; hypertension; urinary retention; osteoporosis; anginapectoris; myocardinal infarction; ischemic or haemorrhagic stroke;subarachnoid hemorrhage; ulcers; allergies; benign prostatichypertrophy; chronic renal failure; renal disease; impaired glucosetolerance; migraine; hyperalgesia; pain; enhanced or exaggeratedsensitivity to pain such as hyperalgesia, causalgia, and allodynia;acute pain; burn pain; atypical facial pain; neuropathic pain; backpain; complex regional pain syndrome I and II; arthritic pain; sportsinjury pain; pain related to infection e.g. HIV, post-chemotherapy pain;post-stroke pain; post-operative pain; neuralgia; emesis, nausea,vomiting; conditions associated with visceral pain such as irritablebowel syndrome, and angina; migraine; urinary bladder incontinence e.g.urge incontinence; tolerance to narcotics or withdrawal from narcotics;sleep disorders; sleep apnea; narcolepsy; insomnia; parasomnia; jet lagsyndrome; and neurodegenerative disorders including nosological entitiessuch as disinhibition-dementia-parkinsonism-amyotrophy complex;pallido-ponto-nigral degeneration; epilepsy; seizure disorders and otherdiseases related to general orexin system dysfunction.

Certain orexin receptor antagonists are disclosed in PCT patentpublications WO 99/09024, WO 99/58533, WO 00/47576, WO 00/47577, WO00/47580, WO 01/68609, WO 01/85693, WO 2002/051232, WO 2002/051838, WO2003/002559, WO 2003/002561, WO 2003/032991, WO 2003/037847, WO2003/041711, WO 2003/051872, WO 2003/051873, WO 2004/004733, WO2004/033418, WO 2004/083218, WO 2004/085403, WO 2005/060959,WO2005/118548. 2-Amino-methylpiperidine derivatives (WO 01/96302),3-aminomethyl morpholine derivatives (WO 02/44172) and N-aroyl cyclicamines (WO 02/090355, WO 02/089800 and WO 03/051368) are disclosed asorexin receptor antagonists.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to diazepan compounds which areantagonists of orexin receptors, and which are useful in the treatmentor prevention of neurological and psychiatric disorders and diseases inwhich orexin receptors are involved. The invention is also directed topharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and the use ofthese compounds and compositions in the prevention or treatment of suchdiseases in which orexin receptors are involved.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to compounds of the formula I:

wherein:X is selected from —SO₂—, —(C═O)—, and —(C═S)—;R¹ is selected from the group consisting of:

-   -   (1) phenyl, where the phenyl is substituted with R^(1a), R^(1b)        and R^(1c), and    -   (2) napthyl, where the napthyl is substituted with R^(1a),        R^(1b) and R^(1c);    -   (3) heteroaryl, where the heteroaryl is substituted with R^(1a),        R^(1b) and R^(1c);        R² is heteroaryl, where the heteroaryl is substituted with        R^(2a), R^(2b) and R^(2c);        R^(1a), R^(1b), R^(1c), R^(2a), R^(2b) and R^(2c) are        independently selected from the group consisting of:    -   (1) hydrogen,    -   (2) halogen,    -   (3) hydroxyl,    -   (4) —(C═O)_(m)—O_(n)—C₁₋₆alkyl, where m is 0 or 1, n is 0 or 1        (wherein if m is 0 or n is 0, a bond is present) and where the        alkyl is unsubstituted or substituted with one or more        substituents selected from R¹³,    -   (5) —(C═O)_(m)—O_(n)—C₃₋₆cycloalkyl, where the cycloalkyl is        unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituents        selected from R¹³,    -   (6) —(C═O)_(m)—C₂₋₄alkenyl, where the alkenyl is unsubstituted        or substituted with one or more substituents selected from R¹³,    -   (7) —(C═O)_(m)—C₂₋₄alkynyl, where the alkynyl is unsubstituted        or substituted with one or more substituents selected from R¹³,    -   (8) —(C═O)_(m)—O_(n)-phenyl or —(C═O)_(m)—O_(n)-napthyl, where        the phenyl or napthyl is unsubstituted or substituted with one        or more substituents selected from R¹³,    -   (9) —(C═O)_(m)—O_(n)-heterocycle, where the heterocycle is        unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituents        selected from R¹³,    -   (10) —(C═O)_(m)—NR¹⁰OR¹¹, wherein R¹⁰ and R¹¹ are independently        selected from the group consisting of:        -   (a) hydrogen,        -   (b) C₁₋₆alkyl, which is unsubstituted or substituted with            one or more substituents selected from R¹³,        -   (c) C₃₋₆alkenyl, which is unsubstituted or substituted with            one or more substituents selected from R¹³,        -   (d) cycloalkyl, which is unsubstituted or substituted with            one or more substituents selected from R¹³,        -   (e) phenyl, which is unsubstituted or substituted with one            or more substituents selected from R¹³, and        -   (f) heterocycle, which is unsubstituted or substituted with            one or more substituents selected from R¹³,    -   (11) —S(O)₂—NR¹⁰OR¹¹,    -   (12) —S(O)_(q)—R¹², where q is 0, 1 or 2 and where R¹² is        selected from the definitions of R¹⁰ and R¹¹,    -   (13) —CO₂H,    -   (14) —CN, and    -   (15) —NO₂;        R³ and R⁴ are independently selected from the group consisting        of:    -   (1) hydrogen,    -   (2) halogen,    -   (3) hydroxyl,    -   (4) —C₁₋₆alkyl, where the alkyl is unsubstituted or substituted        with one or more substituents selected from R¹³,    -   (5) —O—C₁₋₆alkyl, where the alkyl is unsubstituted or        substituted with one or more substituents selected from R¹³,    -   (6) -phenyl or -napthyl, where the phenyl or napthyl is        unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituents        selected from R¹³,    -   (7) NR¹⁰R¹¹, wherein R¹⁰ and R¹¹ are independently selected from        the group consisting of:        -   (a) hydrogen,        -   (b) C₁₋₆alkyl, which is unsubstituted or substituted with            one or more substituents selected from R¹³,    -   or R³ and R⁴ taken together form C═O;        R¹³ is selected from the group consisting of:    -   (1) halogen,    -   (2) hydroxyl,    -   (3) —(C═O)_(m)—O_(n)—C₁₋₆alkyl, where the alkyl is unsubstituted        or substituted with one or more substituents selected from R¹⁴,    -   (4)_(m)—O_(n)—(C₁₋₃)perfluoroalkyl,    -   (5) —(C═O)_(m)—O_(n)—C₃₋₆cycloalkyl, where the cycloalkyl is        unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituents        selected from R¹⁴,    -   (6) —(C═O)_(m)—C₂₋₄alkenyl, where the alkenyl is unsubstituted        or substituted with one or more substituents selected from R¹⁴,    -   (7) —(C═O)_(m)—O_(n)-phenyl or —(C═O)_(m)—O_(n)-napthyl, where        the phenyl or napthyl is unsubstituted or substituted with one        or more substituents selected from R¹⁴,    -   (8) —(C═O)_(m)—O_(n)-heterocycle, where the heterocycle is        unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituents        selected from R¹⁴,    -   (9) —(C═O)_(m)—NR¹⁰OR¹¹,    -   (10) —S(O)₂—NR¹⁰R¹¹,    -   (11) —S(O)_(q)—R¹²,    -   (12) —CO₂H,    -   (13) —CN, and    -   (14) —NO₂;        R¹⁴ is selected from the group consisting of:    -   (1) hydroxyl,    -   (2) halogen,    -   (3) C₁₋₆alkyl,    -   (4) —C₃₋₆cycloalkyl,    -   (5) —O—C₁₋₁₆alkyl,    -   (6) —O(C═O)—C₁₋₆alkyl,    -   (7) —NH—C₁₋₆alkyl,    -   (8) phenyl,    -   (9) heterocycle,    -   (10) —CO₂H, and    -   (11) —CN;        or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

An embodiment of the present invention includes compounds of the formulaIa:

wherein R¹, R², R³ and R⁴ are defined herein; or a pharmaceuticallyacceptable salt thereof.

An embodiment of the present invention includes compounds of the formulaIb:

wherein R¹, R², R³ and R⁴ are defined herein; or a pharmaceuticallyacceptable salt thereof.

An embodiment of the present invention includes compounds of the formulaIc:

wherein R¹ and R² are defined herein; or a pharmaceutically acceptablesalt thereof.

An embodiment of the present invention includes compounds wherein X is—SO₂—.

An embodiment of the present invention includes compounds wherein X is—(C═O)—.

An embodiment of the present invention includes compounds wherein X is—(C═S)—.

An embodiment of the present invention includes compounds wherein R¹ isphenyl, which is unsubstituted or substituted with one or more of:

-   -   (1) halogen,    -   (2) hydroxyl,    -   (3) —O_(n)—C₁₋₆alkyl, where n is 0 or 1 (wherein if n is 0, a        bond is present) and where the alkyl is unsubstituted or        substituted with one or more substituents selected from R¹³,    -   (4)_(m)—O_(n)-phenyl, where the phenyl is unsubstituted or        substituted with one or more substituents selected from R¹³,    -   (5) -heterocycle, where the heterocycle is unsubstituted or        substituted with one or more substituents selected from R¹³,    -   (6) —NR¹⁰R¹¹, wherein R¹⁰ and R¹¹ are independently selected        from the group consisting of:        -   (a) hydrogen,        -   (b) C₁₋₆alkyl, which is unsubstituted or substituted with            one or more substituents selected from R¹³,    -   (7) —S(O)₂—NR¹⁰R¹¹,    -   (8) —CO₂H,    -   (9) —CN, and    -   (10) —NO₂.

An embodiment of the present invention includes compounds wherein R¹ isphenyl, which is unsubstituted or substituted with one or more methyl,—CF₃, halo, —OCF₃, —OCH₃, —OCH₂CH₃, —CO₂CH₃, —CN, —N(CH₃), —NH(CH₂CH₃),—NO₂, triazolyl or phenyl:

An embodiment of the present invention includes compounds wherein R¹ isphenyl, which is unsubstituted or substituted with one or more methyl,—CF₃, chloro, fluoro, —OCF₃, —OCH₃, —OCH₂CH₃, —CO₂CH₃, triazolyl orphenyl.

An embodiment of the present invention includes compounds wherein R¹ isphenyl, which is unsubstituted or substituted with one or more methyl,—CF₃, fluoro, —OCF₃, —OCH₃, —CO₂CH₃ or phenyl.

An embodiment of the present invention includes compounds wherein R¹ isselected from the group consisting of:

-   -   (1) phenyl,    -   (2) biphenyl,    -   (3) 2,6-dimethoxyphenyl,    -   (4) 2,4-dichlorophenyl,    -   (5) 2,6-dichlorophenyl,    -   (6) 2,3-difluophenyl,    -   (7) 2,4-difluophenyl,    -   (8) 2,6-difluophenyl,    -   (9) 2-methoxy-4-methyl-phenyl,    -   (10) 3-methoxy-biphenyl,    -   (11) 3-methyl-biphenyl, and    -   (12) 5-methyl-2-triazolyl-phenyl.

An embodiment of the present invention includes compounds wherein R¹ isphenyl.

An embodiment of the present invention includes compounds wherein R¹ is2,6-dimethoxyphenyl.

An embodiment of the present invention includes compounds wherein R² isheteroaryl, which is unsubstituted or substituted with one or more of:

-   -   (1) halogen,    -   (2) hydroxyl,    -   (3) —O_(n)—C₁₋₆alkyl, where n is 0 or 1 (wherein if n is 0, a        bond is present) and where the alkyl is unsubstituted or        substituted with one or more substituents selected from R¹³,    -   (4)_(m)—O_(n)-phenyl, where the phenyl is unsubstituted or        substituted with one or more substituents selected from R¹³,    -   (5) -heterocycle, where the heterocycle is unsubstituted or        substituted with one or more substituents selected from R¹³,    -   (6) —NR¹⁰R¹¹, wherein R¹⁰ and R¹¹ are independently selected        from the group consisting of:        -   (a) hydrogen,        -   (b) C₁₋₆alkyl, which is unsubstituted or substituted with            one or more substituents selected from R¹³,    -   (7) —S(O)₂—NR¹⁰OR¹¹,    -   (8) —CO₂H,    -   (9) —CN, and    -   (10) —NO₂.

An embodiment of the present invention includes compounds wherein R² isheteroaryl, which is unsubstituted or substituted with halogen,hydroxyl, C₁₋₆alkyl, —O—C₁₋₆alkyl or phenyl.

An embodiment of the present invention includes compounds wherein R² isselected from the group consisting of:

-   -   (1) benzimidazolyl,    -   (2) benzothiazolyl,    -   (3) benzoxazolyl,    -   (4) quinazolinyl,    -   (5) quinolinyl,    -   (6) thiadiazolyl,    -   which is unsubstituted or substituted with halogen, hydroxyl,        C₁₋₆alkyl, —O—C₁₋₆alkyl or phenyl.

An embodiment of the present invention includes compounds wherein R² isselected from the group consisting of:

-   -   (1) benzimidazol-2-yl,    -   (2) 1,3-benzothiazol-2-yl,    -   (3) 1,3-benzoxazol-2-yl,    -   (4) 2-quinazolinyl,    -   (5) 1-quinolin-2-yl,    -   (6) 1,2,4-thiadiazol-5-yl,    -   which is unsubstituted or substituted with methyl, fluoro,        chloro or phenyl.

An embodiment of the present invention includes compounds wherein R² isbenzothiazolyl, which is unsubstituted or substituted with chloro.

An embodiment of the present invention includes compounds wherein R² is6-chloro-benzothiazolyl.

An embodiment of the present invention includes compounds wherein R² isbenzoxazolyl.

An embodiment of the present invention includes compounds wherein R² isquinazolinyl or quinolinyl.

An embodiment of the present invention includes compounds wherein R³ andR⁴ are independently selected from the group consisting of:

-   -   (1) hydrogen,    -   (2) halogen,    -   (3) hydroxyl,    -   (4) —C₁₋₆alkyl,    -   (5) —O—C₁₋₁₆alkyl,    -   (6) -phenyl,    -   (7) —NR¹⁰R¹¹, wherein R¹⁰ and R¹¹ are independently selected        from the group consisting of:        -   (a) hydrogen,        -   (b) C₁₋₆alkyl,    -   or R³ and R⁴ taken together form C═O;

An embodiment of the present invention includes compounds wherein R³ andR⁴ are hydrogen.

An embodiment of the present invention includes compounds wherein R³ isfluoro and R⁴ is hydrogen.

An embodiment of the present invention includes compounds wherein R³ ishydroxyl and R⁴ is hydrogen.

An embodiment of the present invention includes compounds wherein R³ is—NH—C₁₋₆alkyl and R⁴ is hydrogen.

An embodiment of the present invention includes compounds wherein R³ is—O—C₁₋₆alkyl and R⁴ is hydrogen.

An embodiment of the present invention includes compounds wherein R³ andR⁴ taken together form C═O.

Specific embodiments of the present invention include a compound whichis selected from the group consisting of the subject compounds of theExamples herein or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

The compounds of the present invention may contain one or moreasymmetric centers and can thus occur as racemates and racemic mixtures,single enantiomers, diastereomeric mixtures and individualdiastereomers. Additional asymmetric centers may be present dependingupon the nature of the various substituents on the molecule. Each suchasymmetric center will independently produce two optical isomers and itis intended that all of the possible optical isomers and diastereomersin mixtures and as pure or partially purified compounds are includedwithin the ambit of this invention. The present invention is meant tocomprehend all such isomeric forms of these compounds. Formula I showsthe structure of the class of compounds without specificstereochemistry.

The independent syntheses of these diastereomers or theirchromatographic separations may be achieved as known in the art byappropriate modification of the methodology disclosed herein. Theirabsolute stereochemistry may be determined by the x-ray crystallographyof crystalline products or crystalline intermediates which arederivatized, if necessary, with a reagent containing an asymmetriccenter of known absolute configuration. If desired, racemic mixtures ofthe compounds may be separated so that the individual enantiomers areisolated. The separation can be carried out by methods well known in theart, such as the coupling of a racemic mixture of compounds to anenantiomerically pure compound to form a diastereomeric mixture,followed by separation of the individual diastereomers by standardmethods, such as fractional crystallization or chromatography. Thecoupling reaction is often the formation of salts using anenantiomerically pure acid or base. The diasteromeric derivatives maythen be converted to the pure enantiomers by cleavage of the addedchiral residue. The racemic mixture of the compounds can also beseparated directly by chromatographic methods utilizing chiralstationary phases, which methods are well known in the art.Alternatively, any enantiomer of a compound may be obtained bystereoselective synthesis using optically pure starting materials orreagents of known configuration by methods well known in the art.

As appreciated by those of skill in the art, halogen or halo as usedherein are intended to include fluoro, chloro, bromo and iodo.Similarly, C₁₋₆, as in C₁₋₆alkyl is defined to identify the group ashaving 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 carbons in a linear or branched arrangement,such that C₁₋₈alkyl specifically includes methyl, ethyl, n-propyl,iso-propyl, n-butyl, iso-butyl, tert-butyl, pentyl, and hexyl. A groupwhich is designated as being independently substituted with substituentsmay be independently substituted with multiple numbers of suchsubstituents. The term “heterocycle” as used herein includes bothunsaturated and saturated heterocyclic moieties, wherein the unsaturatedheterocyclic moieties (i.e. “heteroaryl”) include benzoimidazolyl,benzimidazolonyl, benzofuranyl, benzofurazanyl, benzopyrazolyl,benzothiazolyl, benzotriazolyl, benzothiophenyl, benzoxazepin,benzoxazolyl, carbazolyl, carbolinyl, cinnolinyl, furanyl, imidazolyl,indolinyl, indolyl, indolazinyl, indazolyl, isobenzofuranyl, isoindolyl,isoquinolyl, isothiazolyl, isoxazolyl, naphthpyridinyl, oxadiazolyl,oxazolyl, oxazoline, isoxazoline, oxetanyl, pyrazinyl, pyrazolyl,pyridazinyl, pyridopyridinyl, pyridazinyl, pyridyl, pyrimidyl, pyrrolyl,quinazolinyl, quinolyl, quinoxalinyl, tetrazolyl, tetrazolopyridyl,thiadiazolyl, thiazolyl, thienyl, triazolyl, and N-oxides thereof, andwherein the saturated heterocyclic moieties include azetidinyl,1,4-dioxanyl, hexahydroazepinyl, piperazinyl, piperidinyl,pyridin-2-onyl, pyrrolidinyl, morpholinyl, tetrahydrofuranyl,thiomorpholinyl, and tetrahydrothienyl, and N-oxides thereof.

The term “pharmaceutically acceptable salts” refers to salts preparedfrom pharmaceutically acceptable non-toxic bases or acids includinginorganic or organic bases and inorganic or organic acids. Salts derivedfrom inorganic bases include aluminum, ammonium, calcium, copper,ferric, ferrous, lithium, magnesium, manganic salts, manganous,potassium, sodium, zinc, and the like. Particular embodiments are theammonium, calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium salts. Salts in thesolid form may exist in more than one crystal structure, and may also bein the form of hydrates. Salts derived from pharmaceutically acceptableorganic non-toxic bases include salts of primary, secondary, andtertiary amines, substituted amines including naturally occurringsubstituted amines, cyclic amines, and basic ion exchange resins, suchas arginine, betaine, caffeine, choline, N,N′-dibenzylethylene-diamine,diethylamine, 2-diethylaminoethanol, 2-dimethylaminoethanol,ethanolamine, ethylenediamine, N-ethyl-morpholine, N-ethylpiperidine,glucamine, glucosamine, histidine, hydrabamine, isopropylamine, lysine,methylglucamine, morpholine, piperazine, piperidine, polyamine resins,procaine, purines, theobromine, triethylamine, trimethylamine,tripropylamine, tromethamine, and the like.

When the compound of the present invention is basic, salts may beprepared from pharmaceutically acceptable non-toxic acids, includinginorganic and organic acids. Such acids include acetic, benzenesulfonic,benzoic, camphorsulfonic, citric, ethanesulfonic, fumaric, gluconic,glutamic, hydrobromic, hydrochloric, isethionic, lactic, maleic, malic,mandelic, methanesulfonic, mucic, nitric, pamoic, pantothenic,phosphoric, succinic, sulfuric, tartaric, p-toluenesulfonic acid, andthe like. Particular embodiments are the citric, hydrobromic,hydrochloric, maleic, phosphoric, sulfuric, fumaric, and tartaric acids.It will be understood that, as used herein, references to the compoundsof Formula I are meant to also include the pharmaceutically acceptablesalts.

Exemplifying the invention is the use of the compounds disclosed in theExamples and herein. Specific compounds within the present inventioninclude a compound which selected from the group consisting of thecompounds disclosed in the following Examples and pharmaceuticallyacceptable salts thereof and individual diastereomers thereof.

The subject compounds are useful in a method of antagonizing orexinreceptor activity in a patient such as a mammal in need of suchinhibition comprising the administration of an effective amount of thecompound. The present invention is directed to the use of the compoundsdisclosed herein as antagonists of orexin receptor activity. In additionto primates, especially humans, a variety of other mammals can betreated according to the method of the present invention. The presentinvention is further directed to a method for the manufacture of amedicament for antagonizing orexin receptor activity or treating thedisorders and diseases noted herein in humans and animals comprisingcombining a compound of the present invention with a pharmaceuticalcarrier or diluent.

The subject treated in the present methods is generally a mammal, suchas a human being, male or female. The term “therapeutically effectiveamount” means the amount of the subject compound that will elicit thebiological or medical response of a tissue, system, animal or human thatis being sought by the researcher, veterinarian, medical doctor or otherclinician. It is recognized that one skilled in the art may affect theneurological and psychiatric disorders by treating a patient presentlyafflicted with the disorders or by prophylactically treating a patientafflicted with the disorders with an effective amount of the compound ofthe present invention. As used herein, the terms “treatment” and“treating” refer to all processes wherein there may be a slowing,interrupting, arresting, controlling, or stopping of the progression ofthe neurological and psychiatric disorders described herein, but doesnot necessarily indicate a total elimination of all disorder symptoms,as well as the prophylactic therapy of the mentioned conditions,particularly in a patient who is predisposed to such disease ordisorder. The terms “administration of” and or “administering a”compound should be understood to mean providing a compound of theinvention or a prodrug of a compound of the invention to the individualin need thereof.

The term “composition” as used herein is intended to encompass a productcomprising the specified ingredients in the specified amounts, as wellas any product which results, directly or indirectly, from combinationof the specified ingredients in the specified amounts. Such term inrelation to pharmaceutical composition, is intended to encompass aproduct comprising the active ingredient(s), and the inert ingredient(s)that make up the carrier, as well as any product which results, directlyor indirectly, from combination, complexation or aggregation of any twoor more of the ingredients, or from dissociation of one or more of theingredients, or from other types of reactions or interactions of one ormore of the ingredients. Accordingly, the pharmaceutical compositions ofthe present invention encompass any composition made by admixing acompound of the present invention and a pharmaceutically acceptablecarrier. By “pharmaceutically acceptable” it is meant the carrier,diluent or excipient must be compatible with the other ingredients ofthe formulation and not deleterious to the recipient thereof.

The utility of the compounds in accordance with the present invention asorexin receptor OX1R and/or OX2R antagonists may be readily determinedwithout undue experimentation by methodology well known in the art,including the “FLIPR Ca²⁺ Flux Assay” (Okumura et al., Biochem. Biophys.Res. Comm. 280:976-981, 2001). In a typical experiment the OX1 and OX2receptor antagonistic activity of the compounds of the present inventionwas determined in accordance with the following experimental method. Forintracellular calcium measurements, Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cellsexpressing the rat orexin-1 receptor or the human orexin-2 receptor, aregrown in Iscove's modified DMEM containing 2 mM L-glutamine, 0.5 g/mlG418, 1% hypoxanthine-thymidine supplement, 100 U/ml penicillin, 100ug/ml streptomycin and 10% heat-inactivated fetal calf serum (FCS). Thecells are seeded at 20,000 cells/well into Becton-Dickinson black384-well clear bottom sterile plates coated with poly-D-lysine. Allreagents were from GIBCO-Invitrogen Corp. The seeded plates areincubated overnight at 37° C. and 5% CO2. Ala^(6,12) human orexin-A asthe agonist is prepared as a 1 mM stock solution in 1% bovine serumalbumin (BSA) and diluted in assay buffer (HBSS containing 20 mM HEPES,0.1% BSA and 2.5 mM probenecid, pH7.4) for use in the assay at a finalconcentration of 70 pM. Test compounds are prepared as 10 mM stocksolution in DMSO, then diluted in 384-well plates, first in DMSO, thenassay buffer. On the day of the assay, cells are washed 3 times with 100ul assay buffer and then incubated for 60 min (37° C., 5% CO2) in 60 ulassay buffer containing 1 uM Fluo-4AM ester, 0.02% pluronic acid, and 1%BSA. The dye loading solution is then aspirated and cells are washed 3times with 100 ul assay buffer. 30 ul of that same buffer is left ineach well. Within the Fluorescent Imaging Plate Reader (FLIPR, MolecularDevices), test compounds are added to the plate in a volume of 25 ul,incubated for 5 min and finally 25 ul of agonist is added. Fluorescenceis measured for each well at 1 second intervals for 5 minutes and theheight of each fluorescence peak is compared to the height of thefluorescence peak induced by 70 pM Ala^(6,12) orexin-A with buffer inplace of antagonist. For each antagonist, IC50 value (the concentrationof compound needed to inhibit 50% of the agonist response) isdetermined. The intrinsic orexin receptor antagonist activity of acompound which may be used in the present invention may be determined bythese assays.

In particular, the compounds of the following examples had activity inantagonizing the rat orexin-1 receptor and/or the human orexin-2receptor in the aforementioned assays, generally with an IC₅₀ of lessthan about 50 μM. Many of the compounds within the present invention hadactivity in antagonizing the rat orexin-1 receptor and/or the humanorexin-2 receptor in the aforementioned assays with an IC₅₀ of less thanabout 100 nM. Such a result is indicative of the intrinsic activity ofthe compounds in use as antagonists of orexin-1 receptor and/or theorexin-2 receptor. The present invention also includes compounds withinthe generic scope of the invention which possess activity as agonists ofthe orexin-1 receptor and/or the orexin-2 receptor.

The orexin receptors have been implicated in a wide range of biologicalfunctions. This has suggested a potential role for these receptors in avariety of disease processes in humans or other species. The compoundsof the present invention have utility in treating, preventing,ameliorating, controlling or reducing the risk of a variety ofneurological and psychiatric disorders associated with orexin receptors,including one or more of the following conditions or diseases: sleepdisorders, sleep disturbances, including enhancing sleep quality,improving sleep quality, increasing sleep efficiency, augmenting sleepmaintenance; increasing the value which is calculated from the time thata subject sleeps divided by the time that a subject is attempting tosleep; improving sleep initiation; decreasing sleep latency or onset(the time it takes to fall asleep); decreasing difficulties in fallingasleep; increasing sleep continuity; decreasing the number of awakeningsduring sleep; decreasing intermittent wakings during sleep; decreasingnocturnal arousals; decreasing the time spent awake following theinitial onset of sleep; increasing the total amount of sleep; reducingthe fragmentation of sleep; altering the timing, frequency or durationof REM sleep bouts; altering the timing, frequency or duration of slowwave (i.e. stages 3 or 4) sleep bouts; increasing the amount andpercentage of stage 2 sleep; promoting slow wave sleep; enhancingEEG-delta activity during sleep; decreasing nocturnal arousals,especially early morning awakenings; increasing daytime alertness;reducing daytime drowsiness; treating or reducing excessive daytimesleepiness; increasing satisfaction with the intensity of sleep;increasing sleep maintenance; idiopathic insomnia; sleep problems;insomnia, hypersomnia, idiopathic hypersomnia, repeatabilityhypersomnia, intrinsic hypersomnia, narcolepsy, interrupted sleep, sleepapnea, wakefulness, nocturnal myoclonus, REM sleep interruptions,jet-lag, shift workers' sleep disturbances, dyssomnias, night terror,insomnias associated with depression, emotional/mood disorders,Alzheimer's disease or cognitive impairment, as well as sleep walkingand enuresis, and sleep disorders which accompany aging; Alzheimer'ssundowning; conditions associated with circadian rhythmicity as well asmental and physical disorders associated with travel across time zonesand with rotating shift-work schedules, conditions due to drugs whichcause reductions in REM sleep as a side effect; fibromyalgia; syndromeswhich are manifested by non-restorative sleep and muscle pain or sleepapnea which is associated with respiratory disturbances during sleep;conditions which result from a diminished quality of sleep; increasinglearning; augmenting memory; increasing retention of memory; eatingdisorders associated with excessive food intake and complicationsassociated therewith, compulsive eating disorders, obesity (due to anycause, whether genetic or environmental), obesity-related disordersincluding overeating and bulimia nervosa, hypertension, diabetes,elevated plasma insulin concentrations and insulin resistance,dyslipidemias, hyperlipidemia, endometrial, breast, prostate and coloncancer, osteoarthritis, obstructive sleep apnea, cholelithiasis,gallstones, heart disease, abnormal heart rhythms and arrythmias,myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, coronary heart disease,sudden death, stroke, polycystic ovary disease, craniopharyngioma, thePrader-Willi Syndrome, Frohlich's syndrome, GH-deficient subjects,normal variant short stature, Turner's syndrome, and other pathologicalconditions showing reduced metabolic activity or a decrease in restingenergy expenditure as a percentage of total fat-free mass, e.g, childrenwith acute lymphoblastic leukemia, metabolic syndrome, also known assyndrome X, insulin resistance syndrome, reproductive hormoneabnormalities, sexual and reproductive dysfunction, such as impairedfertility, infertility, hypogonadism in males and hirsutism in females,fetal defects associated with maternal obesity, gastrointestinalmotility disorders, such as obesity-related gastro-esophageal reflux,respiratory disorders, such as obesity-hypoventilation syndrome(Pickwickian syndrome), breathlessness, cardiovascular disorders,inflammation, such as systemic inflammation of the vasculature,arteriosclerosis, hypercholesterolemia, hyperuricaemia, lower back pain,gallbladder disease, gout, kidney cancer, increased anesthetic risk,reducing the risk of secondary outcomes of obesity, such as reducing therisk of left ventricular hypertrophy; diseases or disorders whereabnormal oscillatory activity occurs in the brain, including depression,migraine, neuropathic pain, Parkinson's disease, psychosis andschizophrenia, as well as diseases or disorders where there is abnormalcoupling of activity, particularly through the thalamus; enhancingcognitive function; enhancing memory; increasing memory retention;increasing immune response; increasing immune function; hot flashes;night sweats; extending life span; schizophrenia; muscle-relateddisorders that are controlled by the excitation/relaxation rhythmsimposed by the neural system such as cardiac rhythm and other disordersof the cardiovascular system; conditions related to proliferation ofcells such as vasodilation or vasorestriction and blood pressure;cancer; cardiac arrhythmia; hypertension; congestive heart failure;conditions of the genital/urinary system; disorders of sexual functionand fertility; adequacy of renal function; responsivity to anesthetics;mood disorders, such as depression or more particularly depressivedisorders, for example, single episodic or recurrent major depressivedisorders and dysthymic disorders, or bipolar disorders, for example,bipolar I disorder, bipolar II disorder and cyclothymic disorder, mooddisorders due to a general medical condition, and substance-induced mooddisorders; anxiety disorders including acute stress disorder,agoraphobia, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsivedisorder, panic attack, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder,separation anxiety disorder, social phobia, specific phobia,substance-induced anxiety disorder and anxiety due to a general medicalcondition; acute neurological and psychiatric disorders such as cerebraldeficits subsequent to cardiac bypass surgery and grafting, stroke,ischemic stroke, cerebral ischemia, spinal cord trauma, head trauma,perinatal hypoxia, cardiac arrest, hypoglycemic neuronal damage;Huntington's Chorea; amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; multiple sclerosis;ocular damage; retinopathy; cognitive disorders; idiopathic anddrug-induced Parkinson's disease; muscular spasms and disordersassociated with muscular spasticity including tremors, epilepsy,convulsions; cognitive disorders including dementia (associated withAlzheimer's disease, ischemia, trauma, vascular problems or stroke, HIVdisease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, Pick's disease,Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease, perinatal hypoxia, other general medicalconditions or substance abuse); delirium, amnestic disorders or agerelated cognitive decline; schizophrenia or psychosis includingschizophrenia (paranoid, disorganized, catatonic or undifferentiated),schizophreniform disorder, schizoaffective disorder, delusionaldisorder, brief psychotic disorder, shared psychotic disorder, psychoticdisorder due to a general medical condition and substance-inducedpsychotic disorder; substance-related disorders and addictive behaviors(including substance-induced delirium, persisting dementia, persistingamnestic disorder, psychotic disorder or anxiety disorder; tolerance,addictive feeding, dependence or withdrawal from substances includingalcohol, amphetamines, cannabis, cocaine, hallucinogens, inhalants,nicotine, opioids, phencyclidine, sedatives, hypnotics or anxiolytics);movement disorders, including akinesias and akinetic-rigid syndromes(including Parkinson's disease, drug-induced parkinsonism,postencephalitic parkinsonism, progressive supranuclear palsy, multiplesystem atrophy, corticobasal degeneration, parkinsonism-ALS dementiacomplex and basal ganglia calcification), chronic fatigue syndrome,fatigue, including Parkinson's fatigue, multiple sclerosis fatigue,fatigue caused by a sleep disorder or a circadian rhythm disorder,medication-induced parkinsonism (such as neuroleptic-inducedparkinsonism, neuroleptic malignant syndrome, neuroleptic-induced acutedystonia, neuroleptic-induced acute akathisia, neuroleptic-inducedtardive dyskinesia and medication-induced postural tremor), Gilles de laTourette's syndrome, epilepsy, and dyskinesias [including tremor (suchas rest tremor, essential tremor, postural tremor and intention tremor),chorea (such as Sydenham's chorea, Huntington's disease, benignhereditary chorea, neuroacanthocytosis, symptomatic chorea, drug-inducedchorea and hemiballism), myoclonus (including generalised myoclonus andfocal myoclonus), tics (including simple tics, complex tics andsymptomatic tics), restless leg syndrome and dystonia (includinggeneralised dystonia such as iodiopathic dystonia, drug-induceddystonia, symptomatic dystonia and paroxymal dystonia, and focaldystonia such as blepharospasm, oromandibular dystonia, spasmodicdysphonia, spasmodic torticollis, axial dystonia, dystonic writer'scramp and hemiplegic dystonia); attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder(ADHD); conduct disorder; migraine (including migraine headache);urinary incontinence; substance tolerance, substance withdrawal(including, substances such as opiates, nicotine, tobacco products,alcohol, benzodiazepines, cocaine, sedatives, hypnotics, etc.);psychosis; schizophrenia; anxiety (including generalized anxietydisorder, panic disorder, and obsessive compulsive disorder); mooddisorders (including depression, mania, bipolar disorders); trigeminalneuralgia; hearing loss; tinnitus; neuronal damage including oculardamage; retinopathy; macular degeneration of the eye; emesis; brainedema; pain, including acute and chronic pain states, severe pain,intractable pain, inflammatory pain, neuropathic pain, post-traumaticpain, bone and joint pain (osteoarthritis), repetitive motion pain,dental pain, cancer pain, myofascial pain (muscular injury,fibromyalgia), perioperative pain (general surgery, gynecological),chronic pain, neuropathic pain, post-traumatic pain, trigeminalneuralgia, migraine and migraine headache.

Thus, in specific embodiments the present invention provides methodsfor: enhancing the quality of sleep; augmenting sleep maintenance;increasing REM sleep; increasing stage 2 sleep; decreasing fragmentationof sleep patterns; treating insomnia; enhancing cognition; increasingmemory retention; treating or controlling obesity; treating orcontrolling depression; treating, controlling, ameliorating or reducingthe risk of epilepsy, including absence epilepsy; treating orcontrolling pain, including neuropathic pain; treating or controllingParkinson's disease; treating or controlling psychosis; or treating,controlling, ameliorating or reducing the risk of schizophrenia, in amammalian patient in need thereof which comprises administering to thepatient a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of the presentinvention.

The subject compounds are further useful in a method for the prevention,treatment, control, amelioration, or reducation of risk of the diseases,disorders and conditions noted herein. The dosage of active ingredientin the compositions of this invention may be varied, however, it isnecessary that the amount of the active ingredient be such that asuitable dosage form is obtained. The active ingredient may beadministered to patients (animals and human) in need of such treatmentin dosages that will provide optimal pharmaceutical efficacy. Theselected dosage depends upon the desired therapeutic effect, on theroute of administration, and on the duration of the treatment. The dosewill vary from patient to patient depending upon the nature and severityof disease, the patient's weight, special diets then being followed by apatient, concurrent medication, and other factors which those skilled inthe art will recognize. Generally, dosage levels of between 0.0001 to 10mg/kg. of body weight daily are administered to the patient, e.g.,humans and elderly humans, to obtain effective antagonism of orexinreceptors. The dosage range will generally be about 0.5 mg to 1.0 g. perpatient per day which may be administered in single or multiple doses.In one embodiment, the dosage range will be about 0.5 mg to 500 mg perpatient per day; in another embodiment about 0.5 mg to 200 mg perpatient per day; and in yet another embodiment about 5 mg to 50 mg perpatient per day. Pharmaceutical compositions of the present inventionmay be provided in a solid dosage formulation such as comprising about0.5 mg to 500 mg active ingredient, or comprising about 1 mg to 250 mgactive ingredient. The pharmaceutical composition may be provided in asolid dosage formulation comprising about 1 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg, 25 mg, 50mg, 100 mg, 200 mg or 250 mg active ingredient. For oral administration,the compositions may be provided in the form of tablets containing 1.0to 1000 milligrams of the active ingredient, such as 1, 5, 10, 15, 20,25, 50, 75, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 400, 500, 600, 750, 800, 900, and1000 milligrams of the active ingredient for the symptomatic adjustmentof the dosage to the patient to be treated. The compounds may beadministered on a regimen of 1 to 4 times per day, such as once or twiceper day.

The compounds of the present invention may be used in combination withone or more other drugs in the treatment, prevention, control,amelioration, or reduction of risk of diseases or conditions for whichcompounds of the present invention or the other drugs may have utility,where the combination of the drugs together are safer or more effectivethan either drug alone. Such other drug(s) may be administered, by aroute and in an amount commonly used therefor, contemporaneously orsequentially with a compound of the present invention. When a compoundof the present invention is used contemporaneously with one or moreother drugs, a pharmaceutical composition in unit dosage form containingsuch other drugs and the compound of the present invention iscontemplated. However, the combination therapy may also includestherapies in which the compound of the present invention and one or moreother drugs are administered on different overlapping schedules. It isalso contemplated that when used in combination with one or more otheractive ingredients, the compounds of the present invention and the otheractive ingredients may be used in lower doses than when each is usedsingly. Accordingly, the pharmaceutical compositions of the presentinvention include those that contain one or more other activeingredients, in addition to a compound of the present invention. Theabove combinations include combinations of a compound of the presentinvention not only with one other active compound, but also with two ormore other active compounds.

Likewise, compounds of the present invention may be used in combinationwith other drugs that are used in the prevention, treatment, control,amelioration, or reduction of risk of the diseases or conditions forwhich compounds of the present invention are useful. Such other drugsmay be administered, by a route and in an amount commonly used therefor,contemporaneously or sequentially with a compound of the presentinvention. When a compound of the present invention is usedcontemporaneously with one or more other drugs, a pharmaceuticalcomposition containing such other drugs in addition to the compound ofthe present invention is contemplated. Accordingly, the pharmaceuticalcompositions of the present invention include those that also containone or more other active ingredients, in addition to a compound of thepresent invention.

The weight ratio of the compound of the compound of the presentinvention to the second active ingredient may be varied and will dependupon the effective dose of each ingredient. Generally, an effective doseof each will be used. Thus, for example, when a compound of the presentinvention is combined with another agent, the weight ratio of thecompound of the present invention to the other agent will generallyrange from about 1000:1 to about 1:1000, such as about 200:1 to about1:200. Combinations of a compound of the present invention and otheractive ingredients will generally also be within the aforementionedrange, but in each case, an effective dose of each active ingredientshould be used. In such combinations the compound of the presentinvention and other active agents may be administered separately or inconjunction. In addition, the administration of one element may be priorto, concurrent to, or subsequent to the administration of otheragent(s).

The compounds of the present invention may be administered incombination with other compounds which are known in the art to be usefulfor enhancing sleep quality and preventing and treating sleep disordersand sleep disturbances, including e.g., sedatives, hypnotics,anxiolytics, antipsychotics, antianxiety agents, antihistamines,benzodiazepines, barbiturates, cyclopyrrolones, GABA agonists, 5HT-2antagonists including 5HT-2A antagonists and 5HT-2A/2C antagonists,histamine antagonists including histamine H3 antagonists, histamine H3inverse agonists, imidazopyridines, minor tranquilizers, melatoninagonists and antagonists, melatonergic agents, other orexin antagonists,orexin agonists, prokineticin agonists and antagonists,pyrazolopyrimidines, T-type calcium channel antagonists,triazolopyridines, and the like, such as: adinazolam, allobarbital,alonimid, alprazolam, amitriptyline, amobarbital, amoxapine,armodafinil, APD-125, bentazepam, benzoctamine, brotizolam, bupropion,busprione, butabarbital, butalbital, capromorelin, capuride,carbocloral, chloral betaine, chloral hydrate, chlordiazepoxide,clomipramine, clonazepam, cloperidone, clorazepate, clorethate,clozapine, conazepam, cyprazepam, desipramine, dexclamol, diazepam,dichloralphenazone, divalproex, diphenhydramine, doxepin, EMD-281014,eplivanserin, estazolam, eszopiclone, ethchlorynol, etomidate, fenobam,flunitrazepam, flurazepam, fluvoxamine, fluoxetine, fosazepam,gaboxadol, glutethimide, halazepam, hydroxyzine, ibutamoren, imipramine,indiplon, lithium, lorazepam, lormetazepam, LY-156735, maprotiline,MDL-100907, mecloqualone, melatonin, mephobarbital, meprobamate,methaqualone, methyprylon, midaflur, midazolam, modafinil, nefazodone,NGD-2-73, nisobamate, nitrazepam, nortriptyline, oxazepam, paraldehyde,paroxetine, pentobarbital, perlapine, perphenazine, phenelzine,phenobarbital, prazepam, promethazine, propofol, protriptyline,quazepam, ramelteon, reclazepam, roletamide, secobarbital, sertraline,suproclone, TAK-375, temazepam, thioridazine, tiagabine, tracazolate,tranylcypromaine, trazodone, triazolam, trepipam, tricetamide,triclofos, trifluoperazine, trimetozine, trimipramine, uldazepam,venlafaxine, zaleplon, zolazepam, zopiclone, zolpidem, and saltsthereof, and combinations thereof, and the like, or the compound of thepresent invention may be administered in conjunction with the use ofphysical methods such as with light therapy or electrical stimulation.

In another embodiment, the subject compound may be employed incombination with other compounds which are known in the art, eitheradministered separately or in the same pharmaceutical compositions,include, but are not limited to: insulin sensitizers including (i) PPARγantagonists such as glitazones (e.g. ciglitazone; darglitazone;englitazone; isaglitazone (MCC-555); pioglitazone; rosiglitazone;troglitazone; tularik; BRL49653; CLX-0921; 5-BTZD), GW-0207, LG-100641,and LY-300512, and the like); (iii) biguanides such as metformin andphenformin; (b) insulin or insulin mimetics, such as biota, LP-100,novarapid, insulin detemir, insulin lispro, insulin glargine, insulinzinc suspension (lente and ultralente); Lys-Pro insulin, GLP-1 (73-7)(insulintropin); and GLP-1 (7-36)-NH₂); (c) sulfonylureas, such asacetohexamide; chlorpropamide; diabinese; glibenclamide; glipizide;glyburide; glimepiride; gliclazide; glipentide; gliquidone; glisolamide;tolazamide; and tolbutamide; (d) α-glucosidase inhibitors, such asacarbose, adiposine; camiglibose; eniglitate; miglitol; voglibose;pradimicin-Q; salbostatin; CKD-711; MDL-25,637; MDL-73,945; and MOR 14,and the like; (e) cholesterol lowering agents such as (i) HMG-CoAreductase inhibitors (atorvastatin, itavastatin, fluvastatin,lovastatin, pravastatin, rivastatin, rosuvastatin, simvastatin, andother statins), (ii) bile acid absorbers/sequestrants, such ascholestyramine, colestipol, dialkylaminoalkyl derivatives of across-linked dextran; Colestid®; LoCbolest®, and the like, (ii)nicotinyl alcohol, nicotinic acid or a salt thereof, (iii)proliferator-activator receptor α agonists such as fenofibric acidderivatives (gemfibrozil, clofibrate, fenofibrate and benzafibrate),(iv) inhibitors of cholesterol absorption such as stanol esters,beta-sitosterol, sterol glycosides such as tiqueside; and azetidinonessuch as ezetimibe, and the like, and (acyl CoA:cholesterolacyltransferase (ACAT)) inhibitors such as avasimibe, and melinamide,(v) anti-oxidants, such as probucol, (vi) vitamin E, and (vii)thyromimetics; (f) PPARα agonists such as beclofibrate, benzafibrate,ciprofibrate, clofibrate, etofibrate, fenofibrate, and gemfibrozil; andother fibric acid derivatives, such as Atromid®, Lopid® and Tricor®, andthe like, and PPARα agonists as described in WO 97/36579 by Glaxo; (g)PPARδ agonists; (h) PPAR α/δ agonists, such as muraglitazar, and thecompounds disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,414,002; and (i) anti-obesityagents, such as (1) growth hormone secretagogues, growth hormonesecretagogue receptor agonists/antagonists, such as NN703, hexarelin,MK-0677, SM-130686, CP-424,391, L-692,429, and L-163,255; (2) proteintyrosine phosphatase-1B (PTP-1B) inhibitors; (3) cannabinoid receptorligands, such as cannabinoid CB₁ receptor antagonists or inverseagonists, such as rimonabant (Sanofi Synthelabo), AMT-251, and SR-14778and SR 141716A (Sanofi Synthelabo), SLV-319 (Solvay), BAY 65-2520(Bayer); (4) anti-obesity serotonergic agents, such as fenfluramine,dexfenfluramine, phentermine, and sibutramine; (5) β3-adrenoreceptoragonists, such as AD9677/TAK677 (Dainippon/Takeda), CL-316,243, SB418790, BRL-37344, L-796568, BMS-196085, BRL-35135A, CGP12177A, BTA-243,Trecadrine, Zeneca D7114, SR 59119A; (6) pancreatic lipase inhibitors,such as orlistat (Xenical®), Triton WR1339, RHC80267, lipstatin,tetrahydrolipstatin, teasaponin, diethylumbelliferyl phosphate; (7)neuropeptide Y1 antagonists, such as BIBP3226, J-115814, BIBO 3304,LY-357897, CP-671906, GI-264879A; (8) neuropeptide Y5 antagonists, suchas GW-569180A, GW-594884A, GW-587081X, GW-548118X, FR 226928, FR 240662,FR252384, 1229U91, GI-264879A, CGP71683A, LY-377897, PD-160170,SR-120562A, SR-120819A and JCF-104; (9) melanin-concentrating hormone(MCH) receptor antagonists; (10) melanin-concentrating hormone 1receptor (MCH1R) antagonists, such as T-226296 (Takeda); (11)melanin-concentrating hormone 2 receptor (MCH2R) agonist/antagonists;(12) orexin receptor antagonists, such as SB-334867-A, and thosedisclosed in patent publications herein; (13) serotonin reuptakeinhibitors such as fluoxetine, paroxetine, and sertraline; (14)melanocortin agonists, such as Melanotan 11; (15) other Mc4r(melanocortin 4 receptor) agonists, such as CHIR86036 (Chiron),ME-10142, and ME-10145 (Melacure), CHIR86036 (Chiron); PT-141, and PT-14(Palatin); (16) 5HT-2 agonists; (17) 5HT2C (serotonin receptor 2C)agonists, such as BVT933, DPCA37215, WAY161503, R-1065; (18) galaninantagonists; (19) CCK agonists; (20) CCK-A (cholecystokinin-A) agonists,such as AR-R 15849, GI 181771, JMV-180, A-71378, A-71623 and SR14613;(22) corticotropin-releasing hormone agonists; (23) histamine receptor-3(H3) modulators; (24) histamine receptor-3 (H3) antagonists/inverseagonists, such as hioperamide, 3-(1H-imidazol-4-yl)propylN-(4-pentenyl)carbamate, clobenpropit, iodophenpropit, imoproxifan,GT2394 (Gliatech), and O-[3-(1H-imidazol-4-yl)propanol]-carbamates; (25)α-hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase-1 inhibitors (β-HSD-1); 26) PDE(phosphodiesterase) inhibitors, such as theophylline, pentoxifylline,zaprinast, sildenafil, amrinone, milrinone, cilostamide, rolipram, andcilomilast; (27) phosphodiesterase-3B (PDE3B) inhibitors; (28) NE(norepinephrine) transport inhibitors, such as GW 320659, despiramine,talsupram, and nomifensine; (29) ghrelin receptor antagonists; (30)leptin, including recombinant human leptin (PEG-OB, Hoffman La Roche)and recombinant methionyl human leptin (Amgen); (31) leptin derivatives;(32) BRS3 (bombesin receptor subtype 3) agonists such as[D-Phe6,beta-Ala11,Phe13,Nle14]Bn(6-14) and[D-Phe6,Phe13]Bn(6-13)propylamide, and those compounds disclosed inPept. Sci. 2002 August; 8(8): 461-75); (33) CNTF (Ciliary neurotrophicfactors), such as GI-181771 (Glaxo-SmithKline), SR146131 (SanofiSynthelabo), butabindide, PD170,292, and PD 149164 (Pfizer); (34) CNTFderivatives, such as axokine (Regeneron); (35) monoamine reuptakeinhibitors, such as sibutramine; (36) UCP-1 (uncoupling protein-1), 2,or 3 activators, such as phytanic acid,4-[(E)-2-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-5,5,8,8-tetramethyl-2-napthalenyl)-1-propenyl]benzoicacid (TTNPB), retinoic acid; (37) thyroid hormone β agonists, such asKB-2611 (KaroBioBMS); (38) FAS (fatty acid synthase) inhibitors, such asCerulenin and C75; (39) DGAT1 (diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1)inhibitors; (40) DGAT2 (diacylglycerol acyltransferase 2) inhibitors;(41) ACC2 (acetyl-CoA carboxylase-2) inhibitors; (42) glucocorticoidantagonists; (43) acyl-estrogens, such as oleoyl-estrone, disclosed indel Mar-Grasa, M. et al., Obesity Research, 9:202-9 (2001); (44)dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DP-IV) inhibitors, such as isoleucinethiazolidide, valine pyrrolidide, NVP-DPP728, LAF237, MK-431, P93/01,TSL 225, TMC-2A/2B/2C, FE 999011, P9310/K364, VIP 0177, SDZ 274-444;(46) dicarboxylate transporter inhibitors; (47) glucose transporterinhibitors; (48) phosphate transporter inhibitors; (49) Metformin(Glucophage®); and (50) Topiramate (Topimax®); and (50) peptide YY, PYY3-36, peptide YY analogs, derivatives, and fragments such as BIM-43073D,BIM-43004C (Olitvak, D. A. et al., Dig. Dis. Sci. 44(3):643-48 (1999));(51) Neuropeptide Y2 (NPY2) receptor agonists such NPY3-36, N acetyl[Leu(28,31)] NPY 24-36, TASP-V, andcyclo-(28/32)-Ac-[Lys28-Glu32]-(25-36)-pNPY; (52) Neuropeptide Y4 (NPY4)agonists such as pancreatic peptide (PP), and other Y4 agonists such as1229U91; (54) cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors such as etoricoxib, celecoxib,valdecoxib, parecoxib, lumiracoxib, BMS347070, tiracoxib or JTE522,ABT963, CS502 and GW406381, and pharmaceutically acceptable saltsthereof; (55) Neuropeptide Y1 (NPY1) antagonists such as BIBP3226,J-115814, BIBO 3304, LY-357897, CP-671906, GI-264879A; (56) Opioidantagonists such as nalmefene (Revex®), 3-methoxynaltrexone, naloxone,nalirexone; (57) 11 HSD-1 (11-beta hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase type 1)inhibitor such as BVT 3498, BVT 2733; (58) a minorex; (59) amphechloral;(60) amphetamine; (61) benzphetamine; (62) chlorphentermine; (63)clobenzorex; (64) cloforex; (65) clominorex; (66) clortermine; (67)cyclexedrine; (68) dextroamphetamine; (69) diphemethoxidine, (70)N-ethylamphetamine; (71) fenbutrazate; (72) fenisorex; (73) fenproporex;(74) fludorex; (75) fluminorex; (76) furfurylmethylamphetamine; (77)levamfetamine; (78) levophacetoperane; (79) mefenorex; (80)metamfepramone; (81) methamphetamine; (82) norpseudoephedrine; (83)pentorex; (84) phendimetrazine; (85) phenmetrazine; (86) picilorex; (87)phytopharm 57; and (88) zonisamide.

In another embodiment, the subject compound may be employed incombination with an anti-depressant or anti-anxiety agent, includingnorepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (including tertiary amine tricyclicsand secondary amine tricyclics), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors(SSRIs), monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), reversible inhibitors ofmonoamine oxidase (RIMAs), serotonin and noradrenaline reuptakeinhibitors (SNRIs), corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) antagonists,α-adrenoreceptor antagonists, neurokinin-1 receptor antagonists,atypical anti-depressants, benzodiazepines, 5-HT1A agonists orantagonists, especially 5-HT_(1A) partial agonists, and corticotropinreleasing factor (CRF) antagonists. Specific agents include:amitriptyline, clomipramine, doxepin, imipramine and trimipramine;amoxapine, desipramine, maprotiline, nortriptyline and protriptyline;fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine and sertraline; isocarboxazid,phenelzine, tranylcypromine and selegiline; moclobemide: venlafaxine;aprepitant; bupropion, lithium, nefazodone, trazodone and viloxazine;alprazolam, chlordiazepoxide, clonazepam, chlorazepate, diazepam,halazepam, lorazepam, oxazepam and prazepam; buspirone, flesinoxan,gepirone and ipsapirone, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

In another embodiment, the subject compound may be employed incombination with anti-Alzheimer's agents; beta-secretase inhibitors;gamma-secretase inhibitors; growth hormone secretagogues; recombinantgrowth hormone; HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors; NSAID's includingibuprofen; vitamin E; anti-amyloid antibodies; CB-1 receptor antagonistsor CB-1 receptor inverse agonists; antibiotics such as doxycycline andrifampin; N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists, such asmemantine; cholinesterase inhibitors such as galantamine, rivastigmine,donepezil, and tacrine; growth hormone secretagogues such as ibutamoren,ibutamoren mesylate, and capromorelin; histamine H₃ antagonists; AMPAagonists; PDE IV inhibitors; GABA_(A) inverse agonists; or neuronalnicotinic agonists.

In another embodiment, the subject compound may be employed incombination with sedatives, hypnotics, anxiolytics, antipsychotics,antianxiety agents, cyclopyrrolones, imidazopyridines,pyrazolopyrimidines, minor tranquilizers, melatonin agonists andantagonists, melatonergic agents, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, 5HT-2antagonists, and the like, such as: adinazolam, allobarbital, alonimid,alprazolam, amitriptyline, amobarbital, amoxapine, bentazepam,benzoctamine, brotizolam, bupropion, busprione, butabarbital,butalbital, capuride, carbocloral, chloral betaine, chloral hydrate,chlordiazepoxide, clomipramine, clonazepam, cloperidone, clorazepate,clorethate, clozapine, cyprazepam, desipramine, dexclamol, diazepam,dichloralphenazone, divalproex, diphenhydramine, doxepin, estazolam,ethchlorvynol, etomidate, fenobam, flunitrazepam, flurazepam,fluvoxamine, fluoxetine, fosazepam, glutethimide, halazepam,hydroxyzine, imipramine, lithium, lorazepam, lormetazepam, maprotiline,mecloqualone, melatonin, mephobarbital, meprobamate, methaqualone,midaflur, midazolam, nefazodone, nisobamate, nitrazepam, nortriptyline,oxazepam, paraldehyde, paroxetine, pentobarbital, perlapine,perphenazine, phenelzine, phenobarbital, prazepam, promethazine,propofol, protriptyline, quazepam, reclazepam, roletamide, secobarbital,sertraline, suproclone, temazepam, thioridazine, tracazolate,tranylcypromaine, trazodone, triazolam, trepipam, tricetamide,triclofos, trifluoperazine, trimetozine, trimipramine, uldazepam,venlafaxine, zaleplon, zolazepam, zolpidem, and salts thereof, andcombinations thereof, and the like, or the subject compound may beadministered in conjunction with the use of physical methods such aswith light therapy or electrical stimulation.

In another embodiment, the subject compound may be employed incombination with levodopa (with or without a selective extracerebraldecarboxylase inhibitor such as carbidopa or benserazide),anticholinergics such as biperiden (optionally as its hydrochloride orlactate salt) and trihexyphenidyl (benzhexyl)hydrochloride, COMTinhibitors such as entacapone, MOA-B inhibitors, antioxidants, A2aadenosine receptor antagonists, cholinergic agonists, NMDA receptorantagonists, serotonin receptor antagonists and dopamine receptoragonists such as alentemol, bromocriptine, fenoldopam, lisuride,naxagolide, pergolide and pramipexole. It will be appreciated that thedopamine agonist may be in the form of a pharmaceutically acceptablesalt, for example, alentemol hydrobromide, bromocriptine mesylate,fenoldopam mesylate, naxagolide hydrochloride and pergolide mesylate.Lisuride and pramipexol are commonly used in a non-salt form.

In another embodiment, the subject compound may be employed incombination with acetophenazine, alentemol, benzhexyl, bromocriptine,biperiden, chlorpromazine, chlorprothixene, clozapine, diazepam,fenoldopam, fluphenazine, haloperidol, levodopa, levodopa withbenserazide, levodopa with carbidopa, lisuride, loxapine, mesoridazine,molindolone, naxagolide, olanzapine, pergolide, perphenazine, pimozide,pramipexole, risperidone, sulpiride, tetrabenazine, trihexyphenidyl,thioridazine, thiothixene or trifluoperazine.

In another embodiment, the subject compound may be employed incombination with a compound from the phenothiazine, thioxanthene,heterocyclic dibenzazepine, butyrophenone, diphenylbutylpiperidine andindolone classes of neuroleptic agent. Suitable examples ofphenothiazines include chlorpromazine, mesoridazine, thioridazine,acetophenazine, fluphenazine, perphenazine and trifluoperazine. Suitableexamples of thioxanthenes include chlorprothixene and thiothixene. Anexample of a dibenzazepine is clozapine. An example of a butyrophenoneis haloperidol. An example of a diphenylbutylpiperidine is pimozide. Anexample of an indolone is molindolone. Other neuroleptic agents includeloxapine, sulpiride and risperidone. It will be appreciated that theneuroleptic agents when used in combination with the subject compoundmay be in the form of a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, for example,chlorpromazine hydrochloride, mesoridazine besylate, thioridazinehydrochloride, acetophenazine maleate, fluphenazine hydrochloride,flurphenazine enathate, fluphenazine decanoate, trifluoperazinehydrochloride, thiothixene hydrochloride, haloperidol decanoate,loxapine succinate and molindone hydrochloride. Perphenazine,chlorprothixene, clozapine, haloperidol, pimozide and risperidone arecommonly used in a non-salt form.

In another embodiment, the subject compound may be employed incombination with an anoretic agent such as a minorex, amphechloral,amphetamine, benzpbetamine, chlorphentermine, clobenzorex, cloforex,clominorex, clortermine, cyclexedrine, dexfenfluramine,dextroamphetamine, diethylpropion, diphemethoxidine, N-ethylamphetamine,fenbutrazate, fenfluramine, fenisorex, fenproporex, fludorex,fluminorex, furfurylmethylamphetamine, levamfetamine, levophacetoperane,mazindol, mefenorex, metamfepramone, methamphetamine,norpseudoephedrine, pentorex, phendimetrazine, phenmetrazine,phentermine, phenylpropanolamine, picilorex and sibutramine; selectiveserotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI); halogenated amphetaminederivatives, including chlorphentermine, cloforex, clortermine,dexfenfluramine, fenfluramine, picilorex and sibutramine; andpharmaceutically acceptble salts thereof.

In another embodiment, the subject compound may be employed incombination with an opiate agonist, a lipoxygenase inhibitor, such as aninhibitor of 5-lipoxygenase, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, such as acyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor, an interleukin inhibitor, such as aninterleukin-1 inhibitor, an NMDA antagonist, an inhibitor of nitricoxide or an inhibitor of the synthesis of nitric oxide, a non-steroidalantiinflammatory agent, or a cytokine-suppressing antiinflammatoryagent, for example with a compound such as acetaminophen, asprin,codiene, fentanyl, ibuprofen, indomethacin, ketorolac, morphine,naproxen, phenacetin, piroxicam, a steroidal analgesic, sufentanyl,sunlindac, tenidap, and the like. Similarly, the subject compound may beadministered with a pain reliever; a potentiator such as caffeine, anH2-antagonist, simethicone, aluminum or magnesium hydroxide; adecongestant such as phenylephrine, phenylpropanolamine, pseudophedrine,oxymetazoline, ephinephrine, naphazoline, xylometazoline,propylhexedrine, or levo-desoxy-ephedrine; an antiitussive such ascodeine, hydrocodone, caramiphen, carbetapentane, or dextramethorphan; adiuretic; and a sedating or non-sedating antihistamine.

The compounds of the present invention may be administered by oral,parenteral (e.g., intramuscular, intraperitoneal, intravenous, ICV,intracisternal injection or infusion, subcutaneous injection, orimplant), by inhalation spray, nasal, vaginal, rectal, sublingual, ortopical routes of administration and may be formulated, alone ortogether, in suitable dosage unit formulations containing conventionalnon-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, adjuvants and vehiclesappropriate for each route of administration. In addition to thetreatment of warm-blooded animals such as mice, rats, horses, cattle,sheep, dogs, cats, monkeys, etc., the compounds of the invention areeffective for use in humans.

The pharmaceutical compositions for the administration of the compoundsof this invention may conveniently be presented in dosage unit form andmay be prepared by any of the methods well known in the art of pharmacy.All methods include the step of bringing the active ingredient intoassociation with the carrier which constitutes one or more accessoryingredients. In general, the pharmaceutical compositions are prepared byuniformly and intimately bringing the active ingredient into associationwith a liquid carrier or a finely divided solid carrier or both, andthen, if necessary, shaping the product into the desired formulation. Inthe pharmaceutical composition the active object compound is included inan amount sufficient to produce the desired effect upon the process orcondition of diseases. As used herein, the term “composition” isintended to encompass a product comprising the specified ingredients inthe specified amounts, as well as any product which results, directly orindirectly, from combination of the specified ingredients in thespecified amounts.

Pharmaceutical compositions intended for oral use may be preparedaccording to any method known to the art for the manufacture ofpharmaceutical compositions and such compositions may contain one ormore agents selected from the group consisting of sweetening agents,flavoring agents, coloring agents and preserving agents in order toprovide pharmaceutically elegant and palatable preparations. Tabletscontain the active ingredient in admixture with non-toxicpharmaceutically acceptable excipients which are suitable for themanufacture of tablets. These excipients may be for example, inertdiluents, such as calcium carbonate, sodium carbonate, lactose, calciumphosphate or sodium phosphate; granulating and disintegrating agents,for example, corn starch, or alginic acid; binding agents, for examplestarch, gelatin or acacia, and lubricating agents, for example magnesiumstearate, stearic acid or talc. The tablets may be uncoated or they maybe coated by known techniques to delay disintegration and absorption inthe gastrointestinal tract and thereby provide a sustained action over alonger period. Compositions for oral use may also be presented as hardgelatin capsules wherein the active ingredient is mixed with an inertsolid diluent, for example, calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate orkaolin, or as soft gelatin capsules wherein the active ingredient ismixed with water or an oil medium, for example peanut oil, liquidparaffin, or olive oil. Aqueous suspensions contain the active materialsin admixture with excipients suitable for the manufacture of aqueoussuspensions. Oily suspensions may be formulated by suspending the activeingredient in a suitable oil. Oil-in-water emulsions may also beemployed. Dispersible powders and granules suitable for preparation ofan aqueous suspension by the addition of water provide the activeingredient in admixture with a dispersing or wetting agent, suspendingagent and one or more preservatives. Pharmaceutical compositions of thepresent compounds may be in the form of a sterile injectable aqueous oroleagenous suspension. The compounds of the present invention may alsobe administered in the form of suppositories for rectal administration.For topical use, creams, ointments, jellies, solutions or suspensions,etc., containing the compounds of the present invention may be employed.The compounds of the present invention may also be formulated foradministered by inhalation. The compounds of the present invention mayalso be administered by a transdermal patch by methods known in the art.

Several methods for preparing the compounds of this invention areillustrated in the following Schemes and Examples. Starting materialsare made according to procedures known in the art or as illustratedherein. The following abbreviations are used herein: Me: methyl; Et:ethyl; t-Bu: tert-butyl; Ar: aryl; Ph: phenyl; Bn: benzyl; Ac: acetyl;THF: tetrahydrofuran; DEAD: diethylazodicarboxylate; DIPEA:N,N-diisopropylethylamine; DMSO: dimethylsulfoxide; EDC:N-(3-Dimethylaminopropyl)-N′-ethylcarbodiimide; HOBT:hydroxybenzotriazole hydrate; Boc: tert-butyloxy carbonyl; Et₃N:triethylamine; DCM: dichloromethane; DCE: dichloroethane; BSA: bovineserum albumin; TFA: trifluoracetic acid; DMF: N,N-dimethylformamide;MTBE: methyl tert-butyl ether; SOCl₂: thionyl chloride; CDI: carbonyldiimidazole; rt: room temperature; HPLC: high performance liquidchromatography. The compounds of the present invention can be preparedin a variety of fashions.

In some cases the final product may be further modified, for example, bymanipulation of substituents. These manipulations may include, but arenot limited to, reduction, oxidation, alkylation, acylation, andhydrolysis reactions which are commonly known to those skilled in theart. In some cases the order of carrying out the foregoing reactionschemes may be varied to facilitate the reaction or to avoid unwantedreaction products. The following examples are provided so that theinvention might be more fully understood. These examples areillustrative only and should not be construed as limiting the inventionin any way.

tert-butyl4-(6-chloro-1,3-benzothiazol-2-yl)-1,4-diazepane-1-carboxylate (A-2)

A solution of A-1 (2.4 g, 12 mmol) in DMF (6 ml) was treated with 2.45 g(12 mmol) 2,6-dichlorobenzothiazole and 1.7 mL (12 mmol) triethylamineand stirred at 100° C. overnight. After cooling to room temperature, thereaction was diluted with EtOAc, washed with water and then brine. Theorganic phase was dried over MgSO₄, filtered and concentrated to provideA-2. Data for A-2: ¹HNMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 7.55 (s, 1H), 7.4 (m, 1H),7.25 (m, 1H), 3.8-3.6 (m, 6H), 3.5-3.3 (m, 2H), 2.05 (m, 2H), 1.4 (m,9H) ppm.

6-chloro-2-(1,4-diazepan-1-yl)-1,3-benzothiazole Hydrochloride (A-3)

A solution of A-2 in EtOAc was treated with HCl (g) and stirredovernight at room temperature in a sealed flask. The reaction wasconcentrated by rotary evaporation to provide the hydrochloride salt A-3as a white solid. Data for A-3: LC/MS: rt=1.32 min; m/z (M+H)=268.0found; 268.1 required for free-base.

6-chloro-2-[4-(2,6-dimethoxybenzoyl)-1,4-diazepan-1-yl]-1,3-benzothiazole(A-4)

To a solution of A-3 (250 mg, 0.82 mmol) in 3 mL CH₂Cl₂ was added 720 μL(4.1 mmol) triethylamine and 206 mg (1.0 mml) 2,6-dimethoxybenzoylchloride. After stirring for 3 h, the reaction was dumped into water andpartitioned with the aid of additional DCM. After separation of thelayers, the organic was dried with Na₂SO₄ and concentrated by rotaryevaporation. The residue was purified by flash column chromatography(hexanes/EtOAc) to provide A-4 as a white solid. Data for A-4: HRMS(APCI) m/z (M+H): 432.1149 found, 432.1143 required.

2-(2H-1,2,3-triazol-2-yl)-5-methylbenzoic Acid (B-2)

A solution of 2-iodo-5-methylbenzoic acid (4.0 g, 15.3 mmol) in DMF (10mL) was treated with 1,2,3-triazole (2.1 g, 30.5 mmol), CsCO₃ (9.95 g,30.5 mmol), CuI (0.145 g, 0.76 mmol) andtrans-N,N′-dimethylcyclohexane-1,2-diamine (0.43 g, 3.05 mmol). Themixture was heated at 120° C. for 10 min in a microwave reactor. Thereaction was cooled to room temperature, diluted with water, and washedwith EtOAc. The aqueous phase was acidified with 1N HCl and extractedwith EtOAc. The organic layer was dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered andconcentrated. The residue was purified by gradient elution on SiO₂ (0 to10% MeOH in water with 0.1% AcOH) to give the faster eluting2-(2H-1,2,3-triazol-2-yl)-5-methylbenzoic acid B-2, followed by theundesired regioisomer isomer, 1-(2H-1,2,3-triazol-2-yl)-5-methylbenzoicacid. Data for B-2: ¹HNMR (500 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 12.98 (br s, 1H), 8.04(s, 2H), 7.72-7.45 (m, 3H), 2.41 (s, 3H) ppm.

2-{4-[5-methyl-2-(2H-1,2,3-triazol-2-yl)benzoyl]-1,4-diazepan-1-yl}-1,3-benzoxazole(B-3)

To a solution of 150 mg (0.45 mmol) B-1, 101 mg (0.50 mmol) B-2, 77 mg(0.57 mmol) 1-hydroxybenzotriazole hydrate, and 250 μL (1.81 mmol)triethylamine in 3 mL of DMF was added 109 mg (0.57 mmol) EDC and thereaction was stirred overnight at room temperature. The reaction waspartitioned between EtOAc and saturated aqueous NaHCO₃. The layers wereseparated and the organic was washed twice with brine, dried over Na₂SO₄and concentrated by rotary evaporation. The residue was purified bycolumn chromatography on silica gel (EtOAc/hexanes) to provide B-3 as awhite solid. Data for B-3: HRMS (APCI) m/z (M+H) 403.1888 found;403.1877 required.

6-chloro-2-[4-(phenylsulfonyl)-1,3-diazepan-1-yl]-1,3-benzothiazole(C-1)

To a solution of A-3 (30 mg, 0.1 mmol) in 1 mL of CH₂Cl₂ was added 19 μL(0.15 mmol) benzenesulfonyl chloride and 50 μL (0.3 mmol) DIPEA and thereaction was stirred overnight at room temperature. The reaction waspartitioned between EtOAc and saturated aqueous NH₄Cl. The layers wereseparated and the organic was washed twice with brine, dried over MgSO₄and concentrated by rotary evaporation. The residue was purified byreverse phase HPLC (CH₃CN/H₂O containing 0.1% TFA as a modifier) toprovide C-1. Data for C-1: LRMS m/z (M+H) 407.9 found; 408.0 required.

tert-butyl 4-(2,6-dimethoxybenzoyl)-1,4-diazepane-1-carboxylate (D-1)

To a solution of A-1 (7.2 g, 36.0 mmol) in 50 mL CH₂Cl₂ was added 10.0mL (72 mmol) triethylamine and 7.93 g (39.6 mml) 2,6-dimethoxybenzoylchloride. After stirring for 72 h, the reaction was dumped into 10%aqueous citric acid and partitioned with the aid of additional CH₂Cl₂.After separation of the layers, the aqueous was extracted again withCH₂Cl₂, the combined organic layers were washed with saturated aqueousNaHCO₃, then water, and dried over Na₂SO₄. Following concentration byrotary evaporation, the residue was purified by flash columnchromatography (hexanes/EtOAc) to provide D-1 as a white solid. Data forD-1: LC/MS: rt=2.02 min; m/z (M+H)=365.1, found; 365.2 required.

1-(2,6-dimethoxybenzoyl)-1,4-diazepane Hydrochloride (D-2)

A solution of 5.0 g (13.7 mmol) D-2 in 150 mL EtOAc was treated with HCl(g) until the solution was warm to the touch. The reaction flask wassealed with a stopper and allowed to stir at room temperature overnight.The solvents were removed by rotary evaporation, the residue wastriturated with Et₂O, and again concentrated to provide D-2 as anoff-white solid. Data for D-2: LC/MS (see two conformers under theseconditions): rt=0.62 & 0.87 min; m/z (M+H) 265.1, found; 265.1 requiredfor the free-base.

2-chloroquinazoline (D-3)

To a solution of 1.0 g (8.3 mmol) 2-aminobenzaldehyde in 30 mL THF at 0°C. was added 1.73 mL (12.4 mmol) triethylamine followed by 980 mg (3.30μmmol) triphosgene. After stirring 4 h at 0° C., 9.4 mL (66 mmol) of a7M solution of NH₃ in MeOH was added and the resulting mixture wasstirred overnight while slowly warming to room temperature. The solventswere removed by rotary evaporation and the residue was triturated withEt₂O and water. The resulting white solid was removed by filtration toprovide the intermediate carbonyl compound [quinazolin-2(1H)-one]. Asolution of 55 mg (0.37 mmol) of this material in 1 mL POCl₃ was heatedto 100° C. for 1 h, at which time most of the excess solvent was removedwith a stream of N2. The residue was partitioned between EtOAc and a 5%aqueous solution of Na₂CO₃. After separation of the layers, the organicwas washed with brine and dried over Na₂SO₄. Following concentration byrotary evaporation, the residue was purified by flash columnchromatography (hexanes/EtOAc) to provide D-3 as a white solid. Data forD-3: LC/MS: rt=1.51 min; m/z (M+H)=165.0, found; 165.0 required; ¹HNMR(500 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 9.35 (s, 1H), 8.0 (m, 3H), 7.7 (s, 1H) ppm.

2-[4-(2,6-dimethoxybenzoyl)-1,4-diazepan-1-yl]quinazoline (D-4)

A solution of 100 mg (0.33 mmol) D-2 in DMF (2 ml) was treated with 60mg (0.37 mmol) D-3 and 140 mg (1 mmol) K₂CO₃ and stirred at 100° C. in amicrowave reactor for 20 min. After cooling to room temperature, thereaction was diluted with EtOAc, washed with saturated aqueous NaHCO₃,then 3 times with brine and dried over Na₂SO₄. Following concentrationby rotary evaporation, the residue was purified by flash columnchromatography (hexanes/EtOAc) to provide D-4 as a beige solid. Data forD-4: HRMS (APCI) m/z (M+H) 393.1930 found; 393.1921 required.

2-(6-fluoro-1,4-diazepan-1-yl)-1,3-benzoxazole (E-2)

A solution of 3.2 g (11.4 mmol) E-1 (C. B. Ziegler et. al. J. Med. Chem.1990, 33, 142-146) in DMF (30 ml) was treated with 1.44 mL (12.6 mmol)2-chlorobenzoxazole and 6.4 g (45.7 mmol) K₂CO₃ and stirred at 80° C. inan oil bath for 1 h. After cooling to room temperature, the reaction wasdiluted with EtOAc, washed with saturated aqueous NaHCO₃, then 3 timeswith brine and dried over Na₂SO₄. LC/MS indicates that the desiredmaterial was in the aqueous phases, so they were combined, saturatedwith NaCl and extracted 3× with 2:1 CHCl₃/EtOH. These extracts wereconcentrated to provide E-2 as an off-white solid. Data for E-2: LC/MS:rt=0.94 min; m/z (M+H)=236.1, found; 236.1 required.

2-{4-[5-methyl-2-(2H-1,2,3-triazol-2-yl)benzoyl]-6-fluoro-1,4-diazepan-1-yl}-1,3-benzoxazole(E-3)

To a solution of 410 mg (1.74 mmol) E-2, 425 mg (2.1 mmol) B-2, 294 mg(2.2 mmol) 1-hydroxybenzotriazole hydrate, and 730 μL (5.2 mmol)triethylamine in 25 mL of DMF was added 418 mg (2.2 mmol) EDC and thereaction was stirred at 50° C. for 3 h. The reaction was partitionedbetween EtOAc and saturated aqueous NaHCO₃. The layers were separatedand the organic was washed twice with brine, dried over Na₂SO₄ andconcentrated by rotary evaporation. The residue was purified by columnchromatography on silica gel (EtOAc/hexanes) to provide E-3 as a whitesolid. Data for E-3: HRMS (APCI) m/z (M+H) 421.1785 found; 421.1783required.

tert-butyl 6-hydroxy-1,4-diazepane-1-carboxylate (F-2)

To a solution of F-1 (W. S. Sarri et. al. J. Org. Chem. 1971, 36,1711-1714) in a solution of MeOH/CH₂Cl₂ cooled to 0° C. was addeddropwise di-tert-butyl dicarbonate (in a 0.126 mol ratio) in CH₂Cl₂. Thereaction was slowly warmed to room temperature while stirring overnight.The CH₂Cl₂ was removed by rotary evaporation, the residue was dissolvedin water and filtered through a Buchner funnel. The filtrate wasextracted with CHCl₃, dried over Na₂SO₄, and concentrated by rotaryevaporation. The residue was purified by column chromatography on silicagel (1:9 MeOH/CHCl₃) to provide F-2 as a pale yellow oil. Data for F-2:LC/MS: rt=0.89 min; m/z (M+H)=217.1, found; 217.1 required.

tert-butyl4-(2,6-dimethoxybenzoyl)-6-hydroxy-1,4-diazepane-1-carboxylate (F-3)

To a solution of F-2 (1.02 g, 4.72 mmol) in 100 mL CH₂Cl₂ at −78° C. wasadded 1.31 mL (9.43 mmol) triethylamine and 993 mg (4.95 mml)2,6-dimethoxybenzoyl chloride. After stirring while slowly warming toroom temperature overnight, the reaction was dumped into 10% aqueouscitric acid and partitioned with the aid of additional CH₂Cl₂. Afterseparation of the layers, the aqueous was extracted again with CH₂Cl₂,the combined organic layers were washed with saturated aqueous NaHCO₃,then water, and dried over Na₂SO₄. Following concentration by rotaryevaporation, the residue was purified by flash column chromatography(hexanes/EtOAc) to provide F-3 as a white solid. Data for F-3: LC/MS(see two conformers under these conditions): rt=1.57 & 1.79 min; m/z(M+H)=381.0, found; 381.2 required.

1-(2,6-dimethoxybenzoyl)-1,4-diazepan-6-ol Hydrochloride (F-4)

A solution of 182 mg (0.48 mmol) F-3 in 10 mL EtOAc was treated with HCl(g) until the solution was warm to the touch. The reaction flask wassealed with a stopper and allowed to stir at room temperature overnight.The solvents were removed by rotary evaporation, the residue wastriturated with Et₂O, and again concentrated to provide F-4 as a whitesolid. Data for F-4: LC/MS: rt=0.41 min; m/z (M+H)=281.2, found; 281.1required for the free-base.

1-(1,3-benzoxazol-2-yl)-4-(2,6-dimethoxybenzoyl)-1,4-diazepan-6-ol (F-5)

A solution of 105 mg (0.33 mmol) F-4 in DMF (3 ml) was treated with 56mg (0.35 mmol) 2-chlorobenzoxazole and 185 mg (1.32 mmol) K₂CO₃ andstirred at 80° C. in a microwave reactor for 20 min. After cooling toroom temperature, the reaction was diluted with EtOAc, washed withsaturated aqueous NaHCO₃, then 3 times with brine and dried over Na₂SO₄.Following concentration by rotary evaporation, the residue was purifiedby flash column chromatography (hexanes/EtOAc) to provide F-5 as a whitesolid. Data for F-5: HRMS (APCI) m/z (M+H) 398.1722 found; 398.1711required.

tert-butyl 4-(2,6-dimethoxybenzoyl)-6-oxo-1,4-diazepane-1-carboxylate(G-1)

A solution of 550 mg (1.45 mmol) F-3 in CH₂Cl₂ (40 ml) was treated with736 mg (1.74 mmol) Dess-Martin Periodinane. After stirring for 1 h atroom temperature, a 5% aqueous solution of Na₂SO₃ and a saturatedaqueous solution of NaHCO₃ were added successively, and the resultantbiphasic mixture was stirred vigorously for 30 min. The reaction wasadded to a separatory funnel, the layers were separated, and the aqueouswas extracted with CH₂Cl₂. The combined organic phases were washed withsaturated aqueous NaHCO₃, then water, dried over Na₂SO₄, andconcentrated by rotary evaporation to provide G-1 as a white taffy. Datafor G-1: LC/MS (see two conformers under these conditions): rt=1.97 &2.06 min; m/z (M+H)=379.0, found; 379.2 required.

1-(1,3-benzoxazol-2-yl)-4-(2,6-dimethoxybenzoyl)-1,4-diazepan-6-one(G-3)

The G-1 material made in the previous procedure dissolved in 25 mL EtOAcwas treated with HCl (g) until the solution was warm to the touch. Thereaction flask was sealed with a stopper and allowed to stir at roomtemperature 1.5 h. The solvents were removed by rotary evaporation, theresidue was triturated with Et₂O, and again concentrated to provide G-2.This material was dissolved in 10 mL DMF and treated with 244 mg (1.6mmol) 2-chlorobenzoxazole and 607 mg (4.34 mmol) K₂CO₃ and stirred at60° C. in an oil bath for 2 h After cooling to room temperature, thereaction was diluted with EtOAc, washed with saturated aqueous NaHCO₃,then 3 times with brine and dried over Na₂SO₄. Following concentrationby rotary evaporation, the residue was purified by flash columnchromatography (hexanes/EtOAc) to provide G-3 as a pale yellow solid.Data for G-3: HRMS (APCI) m/z (M+H) 396.1551 found; 396.1554 required.

1-(1,3-benzoxazol-2-yl)-4-(2,6-dimethoxybenzoyl)-N-methyl-1,4-diazepan-6-amine(H-1)

To a solution of 61 mg (0.154 mmol) G-3 in 5 mL 1,2-dichloroethane wasadded 770 μL (1.54 mmol) of 2M methylamine in THF and 401 (0.62 μmmol)HOAc. After stirring for 2 h at room temperature, 65 mg (0.31 mmol)sodium triacetoxyborohydride was added and the reaction was stirredovernight at room temperature. It was then diluted with EtOAc, washedwith saturated aqueous NaHCO₃, then brine, and dried over Na₂SO₄.Following concentration by rotary evaporation, the residue was purifiedby flash column chromatography (EtOAc/20:1:1 EtOH:NH₄OH:H₂O) to provideH-1 as a white solid. Data for H-1: HRMS (APCI) m/z (M+H) 411.2028found; 411.2027 required.

2-(4-{[5-methyl-2-(2H-1,2,3-triazol-2-yl)phenyl]carbonothioyl}-1,4-diazepan-1-yl-1,3-benzoxazole(I-1)

To a solution of 100 mg (0.25 mmol) B-3 in 1 mL THF was added 60 mg(0.149 mmol) Lawesson's reagent and the reaction was stirred 72 h atroom temperature. An additional 60 mg of Lawesson's reagent was addedand the mixture was heated at 50° C. for several hours. The reaction wasthen heated at 100° C. for 5 minutes in a microwave reactor. Anadditional 100 mg of Lawesson's was added and the reaction was heated at100° C. in the microwave for an additional 10 minutes. To the reactionwas added silica gel, the mixture was concentrated, then purified byflash column chromatography (EtOAc/hexanes) to provide I-1 as anoff-white solid. Data for I-1: HRMS (APCI) m/z (M+H) 419.1652 found;419.1649 required.

TABLE 1

The following compounds were prepared using the foregoing methodology,but substituting the appropriately substituted reagent, as described inthe foregoing Reaction Schemes and Examples. The requisite startingmaterials were commercially available, described in the literature orreadily synthesized by one skilled in the art of organic synthesiswithout undue experimentation. Some final products were purified byflash chromatography (SiO₂; EtOAc/hexanes) and were isolated as thefree-base; alternately, some products were purified by reverse phaseHPLC (CH₃CN/H₂O containing 0.1% TFA as a modifier) and isolated as theTFA salt, in which case the masses reported and found are for thefree-base.

Cmp Structure Name HRMS m/z (M + H) 1-1

4-(biphenyl-2-ylcarbonyl)-1- (6-chloro-1,3-benzothiazol-2-yl)-1,4-diazepane HRMS m/z (M + H) 448.1233 found, 448.1245 required.1-2

1-(6-chloro-1,3-benzothiazol- 2-yl)-4-(2-methoxy-4-methylbenzoyl)-1,4-diazepane HRMS m/z (M + H) 416.1190 found, 416.1194required. 1-3

2-{4-[(2-methyl-5-phenyl-1,3- thiazol-4-yl)carbonyl]-1,4-diazepan-1-yl}-1,3- benzoxazole HRMS m/z (M + H) 419.1547 found,419.1536 required. 1-4

1-(2,6-dimethoxybenzoyl)-4- (3-phenyl-1,2,4-thiadiazol-5-yl)-1,4-diazepane HRMS m/z (M + H) 425.1653 found, 425.1642 required.1-5

2-[4-(2,6-dimethoxybenzoyl)- 6-methoxy-1,4-diazepan-1-yl]-1,3-benzoxazole HRMS m/z (M + H) 412.1881 found, 412.1867 required.1-6

2-{4-[(3-methoxybiphenyl-2- yl)carbonyl]-1,4-diazepan-1-yl}-1,3-benzoxazole HRMS m/z (M + H) 428.1983 found, 428.1969 required.1-7

2-{4-[(3-methylbiphenyl-2- yl)carbonyl]-1,4-diazepan-1-yl}-1,3-benzoxazole HRMS m/z (M + H) 412.2022 found, 412.2020 required.1-8

2-{4-[5-methyl-2-(2H-1,2,3- triazol-2-yl)benzoyl]-1,4-diazepan-1-yl}quinazoline HRMS m/z (M + H) 414.2040 found, 414.2037required. 1-9

1-(1,3-benzoxazol-2-yl)-4-[2- (ethylamino)benzoyl]-1,4- diazepane HRMSm/z (M + H) 365.1979 found, 365.1972 required. 1-10

4-(2,6-dimethoxybenzoyl)-1- quinolin-2-yl-1,4-diazepane HRMS m/z (M + H)392.1973 found, 391.1969 required.

While the invention has been described and illustrated with reference tocertain particular embodiments thereof, those skilled in the art willappreciate that various adaptations, changes, modifications,substitutions, deletions, or additions of procedures and protocols maybe made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A compound of the formula Ia:

wherein: R¹ is selected from the group consisting of: (1) phenyl, (2)biphenyl, (3) 2,6-dimethoxyphenyl, (4) 2,4-dichlorophenyl, (5)2,6-dichlorophenyl, (6) 2,3-difluorophenyl, (7) 2,4-difluorophenyl, (8)2,6-difluorophenyl, (9) 2-methoxy-4-methyl-phenyl, (10)3-methoxy-biphenyl, (11) 3-methyl-biphenyl, and (12)5-methyl-2-triazolyl-phenyl; R² is selected from the group consistingof: (1) benzimidazolyl, (2) benzothiazolyl, (3) benzoxazolyl, (4)quinazolinyl, (5) quinolinyl, (6) thiadiazolyl, which is unsubstitutedor substituted with halogen, hydroxyl, C₁₋₆alkyl, —O—C₁₋₆alkyl orphenyl; R³ and R⁴ are selected from the following options: R³ and R⁴ arehydrogen, R³ is fluoro and R⁴ is hydrogen, R³ is hydroxyl and R⁴ ishydrogen, R³ is —NH—C₁₋₆alkyl and R⁴ is hydrogen, R³ is —O—C₁₋₆alkyl andR⁴ is hydrogen, or R³ and R⁴ taken together form C═O; or apharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 2. The compound of claim 1 ofthe formula Ic:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 3. The compound of claim1 wherein R¹ is phenyl or 2,6-dimethoxyphenyl.
 4. A compound which isselected from the group consisting of:6-chloro-2-[4-(2,6-dimethoxybenzoyl)-1,4-diazepan-1-yl]-1,3-benzothiazole;2-{4-[5-methyl-2-(2H-1,2,3-triazol-2-yl)benzoyl]-1,4-diazepan-1-yl}-1,3-benzoxazole;2-[4-(2,6-dimethoxybenzoyl)-1,4-diazepan-1-yl]quinazoline;2-{4-[5-methyl-2-(2H-1,2,3-triazol-2-yl)benzoyl]-6-fluoro-1,4-diazepan-1-yl}-1,3-benzoxazole;1-(1,3-benzoxazol-2-yl)-4-(2,6-dimethoxybenzoyl)-1,4-diazepan-6-ol;1-(1,3-benzoxazol-2-yl)-4-(2,6-dimethoxybenzoyl)-1,4-diazepan-6-one;1-(1,3-benzoxazol-2-yl)-4-(2,6-dimethoxybenzoyl)-N-methyl-1,4-diazepan-6-amine;4-(biphenyl-2-ylcarbonyl)-1-(6-chloro-1,3-benzothiazol-2-yl)-1,4-diazepane;1-(6-chloro-1,3-benzothiazol-2-yl)-4-(2-methoxy-4-methylbenzoyl)-1,4-diazepane;2-{4-[(2-methyl-5-phenyl-1,3-thiazol-4-yl)carbonyl]-1,4-diazepan-1-yl}-1,3-benzoxazole;1-(2,6-dimethoxybenzoyl)-4-(3-phenyl-1,2,4-thiadiazol-5-yl)-1,4-diazepane;2-[4-(2,6-dimethoxybenzoyl)-6-methoxy-1,4-diazepan-1-yl]-1,3-benzoxazole;2-{4-[(3-methoxybiphenyl-2-yl)carbonyl]-1,4-diazepan-1-yl}-1,3-benzoxazole;2-{4-[(3-methylbiphenyl-2-yl)carbonyl]-1,4-diazepan-1-yl}-1,3-benzoxazole;2-{4-[5-methyl-2-(2H-1,2,3-triazol-2-yl)benzoyl]-1,4-diazepan-1-yl}quinazoline;1-(1,3-benzoxazol-2-yl)-4-[2-(ethylamino)benzoyl]-1,4-diazepane; and4-(2,6-dimethoxybenzoyl)-1-quinolin-2-yl-1,4-diazepane; or apharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 5. A pharmaceuticalcomposition which comprises an inert carrier and a compound of claim 1or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 6. A method for enhancingthe quality of sleep in a mammalian patient in need thereof whichcomprises administering to the patient a therapeutically effectiveamount of the compound of claim 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable saltthereof.
 7. A method for treating insomnia in a mammalian patient inneed thereof which comprises administering to the patient atherapeutically effective amount of the compound of claim 1 or apharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.